This course for established and aspiring art world professionals alike takes participants into the dynamic cultural hub of Hong Kong to discover the infrastructures that produce, display, and sell contemporary art. Hong Kong’s ever-increasing importance for key players in the art market, especially young, ambitious collectors, provides the ideal backdrop for exploring the links between art, business, and the international art market. Lectures and site visits will introduce participants to recent trends in art and key themes and concepts of contemporary art to understand how they influence the art being created today. Potential site visits include an insider’s tour of Sotheby’s auction house, a visit to the Tsz Shan Monastery, and a private tour of M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture.
For those exploring career options in the vibrant art scene or considering a career change, as well as established professionals aiming to consolidate their knowledge, this course offers invaluable insights into the numerous professional paths available in the global art world by providing in-depth exposure to exclusive small-group conversations with professionals from both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors including artists, art dealers, curators, art fair managers, gallery owners, auction specialists and marketing professionals.
Identify the key players in Hong Kong’s contemporary art scene, from artists and curators to dealers and auction house specialists
Understand the variety of career trajectories within the art world and what it means to be an art world professional, as explained by leading experts in the field
Navigate confidently the contemporary art landscape in Hong Kong by exploring venues and neighbourhoods of contemporary art activity
Become familiar with some of the most important and critically acclaimed artists and recent trends in contemporary art
Adjunct and Graduate Faculty
Dr Katie Hill is Academic Lead – Asia and Senior Lecturer at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London, where she has led the MA in Modern and Contemporary Asian Art for the past six years. Learn more...
Read MoreCourse Leader
Felix Kwok graduated from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Hong Kong. After joining Sotheby's in 2012, he was promoted to the head of Modern Art, Asia department of Sotheby's at the end of 2020. In 2022, he was selected as "40 Under 40 Asia-Pacific" by the nearly century-old Apollo Art Magazine in the UK.
Read MoreDay 1: Gain a grounding in the topography of the Hong Kong art scene through an overview of current key players and the art market at large. Hear from gallerists and tastemakers working in the city about their role and how they navigate the market.
Day 2: Explore the pulse of the upper echelons of market in Seoul during a visit to the West Kowloon district, including curator tours of M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Day 3: A focus on collecting, collections and collectors will be led through conversations between art advisers, collection managers and gallerists. Later, discover the increasingly important world of art finance, fractional ownership, and investment in art funds through a lecture and discussion. There will also be an opportunity to visit a private collection in the city.
Day 4: Bridge the art market with the not-for-profit sector in an in-depth discussion, with a specific focus on the challenges and opportunities that non-profit organizations encounter today. Hear directly from Art Basel directorship and analyse reports from the most recent Fair.
Day 5: Experience an exclusive and unique day trip to Tsz Shan Monastery and visit the Buddhist Art Museum and collection.
Course participants take away in-depth and valuable insight into the current and future art world. Those who successfully complete their course will receive a certificate of completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Sotheby’s Institute of Art course participants come from all over the world, from a wide variety of backgrounds. As they study, travel, and explore the art world alongside each other throughout the program, fierce and long-lasting collaborations are frequently born. Individuals who complete these courses join our network of over 8,000 past participants around the globe who hold top positions at renowned art organizations.
English Language Requirement
Course participants should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and presentations in English. It is recommended that participants have the equivalent level of IELTS score of 6.0 /TOEFL score of 78 IBT, however evidence of test scores is not required to register.
Age Requirement
Courses are open to participants 18 years of age or older, however, we prefer that students have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience to be able to properly engage in the course.
For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
We encourage interested individuals to book a consultation time with a member of our admissions team to learn more about this course and our registration process.
Please use this link to book a consultation time via phone or video call.